When the theatrical release of James Cameron's Titanic was delayed from July to December of 1997, media pundits speculated that Cameron's $200 million disaster epic would cause the director's downfall, signal the end of th... more &raquoe blockbuster era, and sink Paramount Studios as quickly as the ill-fated luxury liner had sunk on that fateful night of April 14, 1912. Some studio executives were confident, others horrified, but the clarity of hindsight turned Cameron into an Oscar-winning genius, a shrewd businessman, and one of the most successful directors in the history of motion pictures. Titanic would surpass the $1 billion mark in global box-office receipts (largely due to multiple viewings, the majority by teenage girls), win 11 Academy Awards including best picture and director, produce the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time, and make a global superstar of Leonardo DiCaprio. A bona fide pop-cultural phenomenon, the film has all the ingredients of a blockbuster (romance, passion, luxury, grand scale, a snidely villain, and an epic, life-threatening crisis), but Cameron's alchemy of these ingredients proved more popular than anyone could have predicted. His stroke of genius was to combine absolute authenticity with a pair of fictional lovers whose tragic fate would draw viewers into the heart-wrenching reality of the Titanic disaster. As starving artist Jack Dawson and soon-to-be-married socialite Rose DeWitt Bukater, DiCaprio and Kate Winslet won the hearts of viewers around the world, and their brief but never-forgotten love affair provides the humanity that Cameron needed to turn Titanic into an emotional experience. Present-day framing scenes (featuring Gloria Stuart as the 101-year-old Rose) add additional resonance to the story, and although some viewers proved vehemently immune to Cameron's manipulations, few can deny the production's impressive achievements. Although some of the computer-generated visual effects look artificial, others--such as the sunset silhouette of Titanic during its first evening at sea, or the climactic splitting of the ship's sinking hull--are state-of-the-art marvels. In terms of sets and costumes alone, the film is never less than astounding. More than anything else, however, the film's overwhelming popularity speaks for itself. Titanic is an event film and a monument to Cameron's risk-taking audacity, blending the tragic irony of the Titanic disaster with just enough narrative invention to give the historical event its fullest and most timeless dramatic impact. Titanic is an epic love story on par with Gone with the Wind, and like that earlier box-office phenomenon, it's a film for the ages. --Jeff Shannon&laquo less

Movie Reviews

TITANIC SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION

Jordan Tancevski | SYDNEY AUSTRALIA | 09/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having garnered 11 Academy Awards in 1998, a reported production budget of over US$200 million (thus making news headlines in 1997) and earning over US$1 billion in box-office receipts worldwide (quite a percentage of those are due to repeated theatrical viewings), Titanic (1997) has finally been given the enhanced DVD edition many have been looking for.

Having "suffered" a mediocre vanilla (single) DVD release in 1999, the title has finally been given better treatment (better film-to-video transfer and extensive bonus materials) by Paramount Home Entertainment for Region 1 or regions using the NTSC video system and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (Other regions or regions using the PAL video system) before 2005 ends.

Paramount Home Entertainment will be releasing a single 3-disc Special Collector's Edition (SCE) for Region 1 (US) whilst Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will be releasing 2 editions: 2-disc Special Edition (SE) and 4-disc Deluxe/Definitive Collector's Edition (DCE) for the international markets.

The feature film Titanic (1997) will be split onto first 2 discs (as per LOTR Special Extended Edition sets) when the enhanced DVD edition is release during the months of Oct - Dec 05 worldwide due to the limitation of the DVD format.

For all editions of all regions, the feature film (HD transfer) is presented in 16 x 9 Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35 : 1) with the usual Dolby Digital Surround EX 5.1 soundtrack, there is also the DTS-ES 6.1 soundtrack included. Hopefully, the part of the feature film on the first disc ends on the appropriate scene for a short toilet/snack break.

note: the behind the scenes branching option means when you're viewing the film a little icon will appear at the bottom of the screen allowing you to jump to that part of the film to see how they done that.

The bonus materials included in the first 2 discs of the DVD set (Applicable for all regions) are listed as follows:

note: The film itself was suppose to run for 5 hours and 20 minutes but over 147 minutes had to be cut down for pacing. The 29 deleted scenes + the alternate ending were originally meant to be in the final cut of the film. Unfortunately were deleted before its release.

"Finally, the most successful film in the film history gets the dvd treatment it deserves, bringing much respite to the fans all the over the world. Previously available barebones edition dvd has been replaced with a 3disc collector's edition dvd set, loaded with all those great never before seen stuff.

Here's what one can look forward to in this edition:

New high definition digital transfer with the main feature spread over two discs to get the highest possible picture and sound quality...and thankfully it does include DTS6.1 ES track!!!

Never before seen footage (approximately 58 minutes, alongwith the main film but it will be available through branching option on the disc unlike LOTR EXTENDED editions!!)

All-new making-of featurettes which will include time lapse footage of the massive set and studio construction.

Incredible Alternate Ending - "Brock's Epiphany"

29 Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary which include romantic moments between jack and rose and historical and action shots as well!!

Titanic collector's edition is a dream come true not just for all those titanic fans out there but it will be a jewel in any dvd collection!!

AND LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT THE LEAST.......if you own a multi-region dvd player or watch dvds from all regions on your DVD ROM, then you have an option of buying from amazon UK where you can choose between the two disc and the four disc set!!"

Great movie, but 10 Anniversary DVD is a waste of money

Joshua | Alabama | 11/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The 10th Anniversary DVD is just a smaller version of the 3-Disc Collector's Edition. You're getting the movie plus a few of the extras from the 3-disc set. I suggest to anyone that already has the 3-Disc set to not bother, because you'll be paying for less of the same thing. If you don't own any copies of Titanic I would try and track down the 3-Disc set, because it's the same price(and cheaper at some places) as the 10th Anniversary Edition, and you'll be getting more extras and better packaging. Titanic is one of my favorites movies of the 90s and my second favorite from James Cameron, but this DVD is a waste of money.

EDIT: I see the 3-disc set is out OOP. If you can still find it for a reasonable price I'd really recommend it. It has some great extras."

Excellent movie, disappointed over the DVD.

Matthew Paul | West Deptford, NJ, USA | 05/19/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Don't get me wrong, I love TITANIC but I found it odd how the disc transfer was only limited to the bare bones! A theatrical trailer, that's it! Come on! This is the most expensive movie, highest grossing movie, most critically acclaimed, and most award-winning movie an there are zero extras? Cameron's other films are fully loaded. TITANIC gets the shaft while lesser films like AMERICAN PIE 2 are blessed with double disc sets with hours of bonuses. This pains me beyond belief as a film buff. I remember a well-done special that was once on FOX about the film and would've been perfect on the disc. A commentary, for crying out loud! A million filmmakers and castmembers and no commentary track? Insane! This disc should be the most overwhelming, extra-ladden DVD ever made, but instead only got left with the standard. The picture and sound quality is top notch, but once you're done the movie you're anxious to find out more. There aren't even any cheesy production notes! Collectors, skip this DVD unless you really love the movie. I only hope that J.C. realizes this and is in the works of a TITANIC SPECIAL EDITION. Now that would do it justice."

HERE'S WHAT TO LOOK FOR...........!!!!!!

Mohd Jafar | Hyderabad, AP India | 08/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"come october, the most successful film in the film history will finally get the dvd treatment it deserves, bringing much respite to the fans all the over the world. the presently available barebones edition will be replaced with a 3disc deluxe edition dvd loaded with all those great never before seen stuff. previous announcements by fox suggested two dvd releases of titanic. one being a two disc set and another 4 disc release with fourth disc being the soundtrack of the film but now there will be just one 3disc edition release, without the soundtrack.

here's what one can look forward to in this edition:

New high definition digital transfer with the main feature spread over two discs to get the highest possible picture and sound quality.

Never before seen footage (approximately 58 minutes, alongwith the main film but it will be available through branching option on the disc unlike LOTR EXTENDED editions!!)

All-new making-of documentary "heart of the ocean", which will include time lapse footage of the massive set and studio construction.

Incredible Alternate Ending - "Brock's Epiphany"

29 Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary which include romantic moments between jack and rose and historical and action shots as well!!